Edwards CM, Puranda JL, Miller É, Aboudlal M, O’Rourke N, MacDonald ML, Adamo KB. Musculoskeletal Injuries, Exercise Behaviors, and Reproductive Health Are Related to Physical Fitness of Female First-Responders and Health Care Providers.
WOMEN'S HEALTH REPORTS (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2024;
5:393-403. [PMID:
39035143 PMCID:
PMC11257141 DOI:
10.1089/whr.2023.0189]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Introduction
Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKi) are the most common injury type experienced by first-responders and health care providers (HCPs), making them a significant threat to physical and mental well-being. Female reproductive health and injury history has been related to physical fitness in female members of the Canadian Armed Forces. This relationship has not been explored in Canadian protective services personnel (first-responders) or HCPs.
Methods
Fifty-seven females employed as firefighters, paramedics, law enforcements, or HCPs completed a physical fitness protocol to assess the following: (1) muscular power (standing long jump and medicine ball throw), (2) muscular strength (4 repetition maximum (4RM) back squats and bench press), (3) muscular endurance (Biering-Sorenson test, single-leg wall sit, and push-ups), (4) flexibility (sit-and-reach), and (5) aerobic capacity (graded treadmill VO2max test). Spearman rho correlation analyses were applied to descriptive analysis, independent-samples t-test, one-way ANCOVA (adjusted by age), and chi-square test. Spearman rho correlation analyses were used to compare physical fitness results for female reproductive health history (e.g., parity status), previous MSKi, and physical activity behaviors (e.g., sports participation). A p value of <0.05 is considered significant.
Results
History of childbirth, body composition, and exercise behaviors were related to physical fitness (i.e., standing long jump, Biering-Sorenson test, bench press, and back squat) in law enforcement, firefighting, paramedicine, and health care personnel.
Conclusions
Physical training programs aimed at supporting parous first-responders or HCPs should emphasize lower body power, lower body strength, and upper body strength.
Collapse